Writer / Jamie Hergott
He does his job standing on top of trucks, laying in the mud or even from the air. David Fast, owner of Photography by Fast in Plainfield, claims that his willingness to be different is what makes him stand out. His business tagline is “the unusual and unique.”
David and his wife Kathy have been doing photography for all 40 years of their marriage but began their family business in 2013. The love of commercial photography comes from being in the Architecture business for 35 years.
“I love the architecture of buildings,” Fast says. “I love bridges, buildings, roads, even signs. We really don’t cut anything out. We consider it all art when we shoot.”
They shoot weddings, families, babies, portraits and other genres. They’ve been dubbed “the funny photographers,” and it’s clear why: they are constantly laughing and finishing each other’s sentences.
“I call myself his bag lady,” Kathy says. “I am always looking for complimentary shots and ideas. I also do all of the social media for the business.”
Over the years, Fast’s repertoire of photography has grown into toying with infrared, drone shots and photo editing. Fast’s commercial projects include photo shoots for brick companies, architectural buildings, construction projects, layouts, catalogs and even shooting the IWEA (Indiana Water Environment Association) conference for the past six years and the Plainfield Garden Tour for the past five years.
Fast uses a drone to capture more dramatic footage of locations and subjects. He is professionally certified to fly them, and his drone is always charged and ready to fly. He never goes anywhere without his camera equipment.
Fast doesn’t charge extra if photo shoots take longer than planned. They have even stretched out family shoots to wait for little ones to nap.
“We know children don’t always cooperate,” Kathy says. “The time is not a big thing for us.”
Fast will often travel for weddings and scope out the location beforehand so he can be ready with ideas for the big day. He comes up with backup plans in case weather or other conditions aren’t ideal and can change all photography plans on the fly.
Fast enters his photo work in the State Fair each year and posts photos to viewbug.com, an online community for photography contests. David and Kathy are very involved in the Plainfield community. They are on the Board for the Garden Tour, they submit their art to the Plainfield–Guilford Township Public Library Arts Gala, and were the only Photographer for Plainfield’s Bicentennial Celebration last year.
“We may put more hours into a session than what we get paid for,” Fast says. “But I don’t care. I enjoy it. I’ll be doing this rest of my life. I want to keep having fun and enjoy what I am doing.”
